Leaders of college football could glean wisdom from Baileys experiences

Baileys sacrifice gave the townspeople a chance as he quipped: to live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath.Leaders of college football could glean wisdom from Baileys experiences.Earlier this week, Hofstra University announced they will terminate their 72-year old football program . This decision comes on the heels of a similar move by Northeastern University that called an end to its football team after 74 seasons. Incapable of generating the excessive funds deemed worthy of a college football program, these one-horse institutions could not survive.Unfortunately, this news will register nothing more than a tiny blip on the radar screen of big-time college football. Hofstra and Northeastern, members of the Colonial Athletic Association, competed in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA)a far cry from the the six major conferences which generate the cash flow needed to support the BCS.On the surface, 168 (84 players from each school) college football positions will go by the wayside. A tiny trickle-down effect will occur as these players seek spots at other schools.

Each year this number will multiply as fewer and fewer student-athletes get an opportunity to play college football.Speaking on the topic, Massachusetts Athletic Director, John McCutcheon, called the budget issues of late a perfect storm of reduction.Could we see more reductionsBeyond those raw numbers, how does one go about measuring opportunities lost 20 current and former NFL players honed their skills on campus in Hempstead, New York. In volume, that number fails in comparison to the total graduated to "Sunday games" by the likes of Oklahoma, Ohio State, and USCto name a few.But consider that Marques Colston , the current leading receiver for the undefeated New Orleans Saints, and former New York Jet, Wayne Chrebet , spent their college careers on the gridiron at Hofstra. Both played college ball at Northeastern.As big-time college football becomes increasingly exclusive, the question of motivation arises. Are decisions made for the better of the game Or are a few schools benefiting at the expense of the gameFootball needs one-horse institutions like Hofstra and Northeastern if for no other reason than to have a place for players to learn the gameplayers like Marques Colston, Wayne Chrebet, Sean Jones, and Keith Willis.Ultimately, George Bailey looked out for the good of all Can the same be said for college footballPickin' Splinters. Gadget Gurus and Early Adopters to Receive a Sneak Preview of Next-Generation,Wireless Remote Viewing SystemSAN DIEGO(Business Wire)Avaak, the industry leader in easy-to-use, wire-free personal video networkingtechnology, today announced the launch of its VueCrew beta program. Open toInternational CES 2009 attendees and tech enthusiasts nationwide, the programwill allow users to be the first to experience the VueTM personal videonetwork-a live, remote video system that enables consumers to view their family,home or business anytime and from anywhere-before it comes to market in spring2009.

"Just as the iPod revolutionized the way consumers experience music andentertainment, we believe the Vue personal video network will change the wayusers remotely view their lives on a daily basis," said Gioia Messinger, founderand chief executive officer at Avaak. "The core technology, which has been inuse by the military and homeland security professionals for the last four years,will now provide consumers with a new level of connectivity, simplicity, andpeace of mind while they are away from their homes or businesses. Members of theVueCrew program have a very rare opportunity to test a product that is destinedto become a household fixture in the very near future." The Vue personal video network was recently named a finalist in the ConsumerElectronic Associations i-stage awards, which honored the 15 most innovativenew consumer technology products coming to market in 2009. The Vue systemconsists of miniature, battery-operated, wireless video cameras and a Web-basedmonitoring service that is available 24/7. Unlike other existing complexmonitoring systems, the Vue is incredibly simple to install, with no wiring,cables, or software required.

As a result, the system is easy to expand ormodify, and cameras can move inside or outside without reconfiguration. For a $50 participation fee, each VueCrew beta member will receive a completeVue personal video network that includes two wireless cameras, a gateway, andfour patented mounting brackets. Throughout the program, VueCrew members will have the opportunityto influence Avaaks product development process. Their feedback will providefirst-hand insight on product features and functionality, and may serve touncover some amazing new applications in the process. To become a VueCrew beta member, please visit Avaaks booth at CES (SandsIP233), or simply sign up at by midnight Jan. 19, 2009.CES attendees who apply for the program at Avaaks booth will automatically beentered to win a free VueCrew membership One winner will be selected each dayof the show The program will begin Feb 4, 2009, and will be limited to 100qualified applicants.